Document Type
Research
Abstract
Throughout most of the 20th century, multilateral development partnership in the area of reproductive health was one of the few success stories in public health. Globally, by 1998, 58 percent of all married women had access to modern contraceptives and other family planning services. This represented 67 percent of married women in developed countries and 54 percent in developing countries. Since taking office in 2001, President George W. Bush has sought to undo these achievements through the global gag rule. On January 20, 2001, President Bush reinstated the 1984 Reagan Mexico City Policy or global gag rule. The global gag rule bars U.S. family planning assistance to foreign NGOs that use funding from any other source to provide abortion services. Non-compliance with the global gag rule results in the loss of funding from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). In January 2003, President Bush proposed the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). This study briefly reviews the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). It then examines in detail the impact of the global gag rule on multilateral health partnerships, the work of global health institutions and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and on reproductive health in Africa. Drawing upon the last four years, this study concludes by exploring possible implications of Bush's second term (January 20, 2005 to January 20, 2009) on global reproductive health.
Publication Date
2005
Journal Title
International Journal of Global Health and Health Disparities
Volume
4
Issue
1
First Page
13
Last Page
29
Copyright
©2005 International Journal of Global Health and Health Disparities
Language
en
File Format
application/pdf
Recommended Citation
Sagala, John Kemoli
(2005)
"Bush's Gag Rule and Africa: Impact on Reproductive Health,"
International Journal of Global Health and Health Disparities, 4(1), 13-29.
Available at:
https://scholarworks.uni.edu/ijghhd/vol4/iss1/3